Eligibility Requirements for Federal Financial Aid

Meet the Following Requirements 

You can be eligible for federal financial aid if you: 

  • Have a high school diploma or GED (or equivalent) 

  • Enroll in an eligible program for an associate degree, transfer degree or certificate 

  • Are a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen (see below) 

  • Show financial need by completing the FAFSA and a Financial Aid Review (except in the case of unsubsidized loans) 

  • Do not owe a refund or repayment on a federal grant 

  • Are not in default on a federal educational loan 

  • Have a valid social security number (if you are a dependent student, your parent is not required to have a valid social security number) 

  • Are not convicted of possession or selling illegal drugs while enrolled and receiving financial aid 

If you meet the requirements, follow these steps: 

  1. Submit all required forms and documents requested by Financial Aid 

  1. Meet and maintain satisfactory progress requirements  

Eligible Non-Citizen 

  • U.S. Permanent Residents with a Permanent Resident Card (I-551) 

  • Conditional Permanent Residents (I-551C) 

  • Those with an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) showing the designations of the following: 

  • Refugee 

  • Asylum Granted 

  • Parole  

  • Cuban-Haitian Entrant 

  • Those with an Immigration Court document approving Asylum 

  • Documentation of entering the U.S. under the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act 

California Dream Act 

This program determines financial aid eligibility for: 

  • Undocumented students 

  • Students who left the state but graduated from a California high school and meet the requirements of AB 540 

Go to the State of California’s Dream Act website for more info.  

Print Article